Achillea 'Sassy Summer Taffy'

Achillea 'Sassy Summer Taffy': Sweet Hues with Bold Garden Presence

Achillea 'Sassy Summer Taffy' is a delightful blend of sugar-spun colour and sturdy garden performance. With large, pastel-peach to soft coral flower clusters that age into warm taffy tones, this tall, upright yarrow adds gentle charm and long-lasting colour to sunny landscapes. As a member of the Sassy Summer series, 'Taffy' offers increased height, improved branching, and larger blooms—making it ideal for back-of-border drama, pollinator plantings, or cottage-style designs. It’s heat- and drought-tolerant, deer resistant, and easy to grow—making sweet success effortless.

Product Characteristics:

• Height: Grows to a height of 75–90 cm, adding bold height and structure to perennial plantings.
• Spread: Spreads approximately 60–75 cm, forming a well-branched, upright clump that maintains a tidy appearance.
• Flower Colour: Opens in soft peach-pink and coral tones that gradually fade to warm buff, creating a multi-tonal effect across the season.
• Flowering Period: Blooms from early summer into late summer, with repeat flowering when deadheaded.
• Foliage: Finely dissected, aromatic green foliage provides a soft-textured backdrop for the pastel blooms.
• Sunlight Requirements: Requires full sun for best colour intensity, flower production, and strong growth.
• Soil Requirements: Prefers well-drained soils and thrives in dry, sandy, or average conditions; does not tolerate soggy soil.

Uses and Benefits: Achillea 'Sassy Summer Taffy' is a beautiful choice for those looking to combine pastel tones with resilient performance. Its soft colouring is perfect for blending into cottage gardens, romantic borders, or modern meadow designs, while its tall form and long-lasting flowers make it a favorite for fresh and dried arrangements. Its nectar-rich blooms support bees and butterflies, and its drought tolerance makes it an excellent choice for water-wise landscapes.

Companion Plants: Pair 'Sassy Summer Taffy' with Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'—its bold rose-purple blooms create a vibrant contrast that energizes the planting while offering consistent pollinator value. Add Calamintha nepeta for clouds of delicate, white blooms that bring movement and a cooling effect around the base of the taller yarrow. For a dramatic foliage pairing, include Heuchera 'Fire Alarm'—its bright red leaves enhance the coral-pink tones of 'Taffy' while adding season-long colour and texture. Together, these companions form a playful yet sophisticated planting that thrives in sunny, dry garden spaces.

Care Instructions: Water during dry periods in the first growing season to establish a healthy root system. Once established, 'Sassy Summer Taffy' is drought tolerant and thrives on minimal care. Deadhead spent flowers to extend the bloom period and maintain a tidy form. Cut back stems in late fall or early spring, and divide clumps every 2–3 years to rejuvenate growth and preserve the plant’s compact habit.

History: Achillea 'Sassy Summer Taffy' is a part of the Sassy Summer series bred by Walters Gardens, designed to elevate traditional Achillea millefolium with increased flower size, upright structure, and modern colour palettes. The parent species, native to Europe and North America, is known for its resilience and pollinator value. 'Sassy Summer Taffy' brings a lighter, more romantic colour range to the garden without compromising the hardiness and adaptability that make yarrow a perennial favourite.

Final Thoughts: Achillea 'Sassy Summer Taffy' offers a deliciously soft colour palette combined with tough, reliable performance. Whether you're designing a pastel-themed border, a pollinator-friendly planting, or simply need a bright and easy-care perennial for a sunny spot, 'Taffy' brings charm, colour, and resilience from summer into fall.